#23: COVID-19: Setback or Setup?

It's no doubt that the last few months have been tumultuous (and remain to be). For everyone. Even though I'm not currently working full time, it's been difficult for me, so I can only imagine how it is for others.

Of course, the year I choose to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to explore our country is the year our nation falls victim to a worldwide pandemic. So frustrating. And sad. And stressful. And mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting. WTF.

BUT. The minute I start feeling sorry for myself, I think about those whose problems and stresses go way beyond mine. The way I have been mastering this trying time is simply by putting things in perspective.

Although this is not an ideal situation for anyone right now, I keep reminding myself that I'm safe and healthy. There are people out there who are not. There are people out there living paycheck to paycheck and not able to work. They are stuck in an apartment with abusive loved ones. They are sharing 800 square feet of living space. They are confined with limited access outside. They are risking their lives, caring for those infected. They are serving us at grocery stores and other essential businesses. There are so many more people in different situations that I probably cannot even fathom. I think about them, and then I start to feel grateful. It's a mindset shift.

Does this suck? Absolutely. I can choose to get mad and sad and frustrated, or I can choose to accept it and find anything positive I can pull from it. Here are some ways I've been deviating from the negative:

• Focus on relationships: With friends, family, and even romantic partners. In strengthening these types of connections, I continue to learn more about myself and realize what I value in others, and how others value me. I've had some eye-opening moments that have enabled me to think differently about who I am and how I interact with others.

• Well-being: Since I’ve had access to regular running water (therefore frequent showers), I’ve been getting my running game back on. I’ve started meditating. And I’ve been doing daily strength exercises. Just having had a recent birthday and being one year older, I understand that one day I won’t be able to move around as easily. I need to take advantage of what my body can do NOW. Additionally, I am writing more than I had been. 

• Learning: I’ve been learning how to sew(!). I borrowed a sewing machine and taught myself how to use it. It’s become something that I enjoy and something that I want to continue on the road (sans sewing machine; I’ve found some techniques that are creative and useful and do not require a machine). I splurged on a membership to Skillshare, so I have access to videos covering an array of topics to broaden my marketing expertise. I also signed up for a digital marketing class.

• Networking: This is something I do all the time, but I've been doing a lot of research on companies and people with whom I'd like to connect. I've been thinking about what I can do now to position myself well for a job after my journey.

• Stopping: This may not be as straightforward, but I’ve been mindful of taking time to stop, enjoy, and just be. I know that one day I will have looked back at this time and realized the beauty of having it. It’s a gift. 

What are the positives of this time for you?

Now, I’m getting back to what I set out to do (safely, of course). I left West Texas for Southern California. I’m visiting some friends now and will continue my journey in whatever way is possible. If parks open up, great. If they don’t, that’s okay too. I’ll figure something else out and make my way just the way I’m destined to (apparently with ample face masks and hand sanitizer and dodging people when I’m running on the sidewalk!).

This is not a setback. It’s a timeframe that has set me up for what’s next. I’m a better person for having this time. We all are, and just need to keep reminding ourselves of that. 

A few photos from my current time in Southern California…

#13: Oklahoma & East Texas

Okay, this entry is a long(er) one. It’s because I covered a lot of ground and don’t want to leave anything out. Also, it’s because I’m way behind on my posts. Sorry, not sorry. 😐

Oklahoma

Before heading down to Texas to meet up with friends, I knew I wanted to make a quick stop in Oklahoma City. I really wanted to visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

I found a Harvest Hosts location about 30 minutes outside of OKC - an Alpaca farm called Awesome Acres Pacas and Pyrs. I was in heaven. Michael, the owner, was generous enough to show me around and introduce me to his (literally) prized Suri alpacas. He spent about an hour with me, walking me around the grounds, explaining his business, and teaching me about this specific breed of Alpacas. The Suri alpaca is rarer of a strain than the alpacas you picture with the fluffy white fur. The Suri breed has a longer, more silky coat, and therefore the yarn is a lot softer. I left there with some yarn for my friend in Austin who knits, socks for myself, and a few little things as other gifts. I’m wearing my Alpaca socks right now, and they’re so soft and warm!

I then took a ride downtown to visit the memorial. Since Addie was with me, we didn’t go inside the museum. I should preface that I don’t 100% remember the OKC bombing. I “remember” it, but it’s not as vivid in my memory as 9/11 or Columbine. Regardless, merely walking into that area of the city made me emotional. I took my time, read all the signs, and just sat. It was very fulfilling, even though a lot of what I felt was loss.

Another strong feeling I had there, after traveling through other areas of the country and feeling very “American,” was unity. Although this was an act of domestic terrorism, the country came together to support it. Thinking about this and having this realization gave me the chills. The United States is like an old married couple. We fight, we bicker, we can’t get along, but when push comes to shove, we seem to unite when needed (I say this very lightly…right now in our country’s state, it’s a bit more complicated than that, I fully realize!). There was an inscription at the memorial that stood out to me: “The spirit of this city and this nation will not be defeated; our deeply rooted faith sustains us.” I’ll just leave it at that. Here are some photos:

Dallas

My first stop in the Dallas area was to Celina - a bit north of the city. An old friend of mine from growing up lives there, and I stopped in catch up with her and meet her sweet baby girl. The timing was perfect, as that weekend happened to be her baby’s first birthday party, and her family was in town, so I got to see them as well.

I hadn’t seen Lauren in years, and despite our lives being different now, our friendship remains the same. I love that. And I loved seeing her be the best mom. Also, Addie doesn’t LOVE children, but she and Katherine seemed to get along just great. I think Katherine was even saying “Addie” towards the end of the visit. Just sayin’.

While at Lauren’s house, I took the opportunity to do a little inventory/cleanout of my Airstream and “stuff.” For the first time since I left in November, I took my roof rack off, got my car washed and sifted through all of my belongings. Believe it or not, I felt like I had too much “stuff,” and as a result, it stressed me out. I couldn’t figure out the best methods of storing clothes and other belongings. What do I use every day? What do I only need at certain times? What do I need in my Airstream, versus what don’t I need at my fingertips daily? Lauren and her mom helped me think things through (sometimes you need someone else to talk it through with!), and I ended up taking two large shopping bags of clothes/“stuff” to Goodwill! At first, it was hard to let go, but I channeled my inner Marie Kondo, thanked those items for helping me along the way, and said good-bye to them. It felt great. I hit the road with a “clean” mind and a clean Airstream and car! As I write this weeks later, I don’t even remember what I donated.

My next stop in Dallas was to visit my friend, Nick, from grad school. What a host! Addie and I had our own room and bathroom - all just renovated. He bought the place a while ago and is nearly doing a complete makeover. I’m proud of him. He is making his house a home, just the way he wants it.

My visit with Nick was during the week, but we managed to squeeze in some fun activities. We cooked a delicious Thai meal, watched a few classic movies, and attended his trivia night (I don’t think I was very helpful). He also took me to Dealey Plaza, where the assassination of John F. Kennedy took place. We toured the museum, which was extremely interesting. There were a lot of details about that event that I didn’t know - and a lot about JFK’s presidency, of which I wasn’t aware. Outside, on the road where the shots took place, there are two “X’s” to mark the location of each shot location. It really hit home.

Waco

On my way from Dallas to Austin, I had to stop in Waco to check out Magnolia (of Chip and Joanna Gaines, of Fixer Upper). I had to understand what this is and how it’s become what it is.

Well, C & J are marketing geniuses. They have managed to take their brand and make it into a destination. This area hosted a bakery, a store, and a coffee shop, not to mention an outdoor area with food trucks to hang out, let the kids play, and enjoy the sunshine. They also have a restaurant in a separate area of Waco.

I enjoyed a few hours of walking around, visiting the coffee shop, store, and bakery. The cookies were delicious, and I thoroughly enjoyed one in the car on the way to Austin.

Austin

I knew I was going to spend ample time in Austin - for two main reasons: 1) I needed some QT with two friends here, and 2) I love Austin and knew I wanted to explore the city.

My best college friend, Amanda, lives in Austin. She just finished school to become a Nurse Practitioner (so proud of her!). The first weekend, she and I planned to check out Enchanted Rock State Natural Area and do some hiking with the dogs (she has a Basset Hound named Linus! ♥️). Enchanted Rock is just about a two-hour drive from Austin, so we made a day of it. We hit the road with bellies full of Tacodeli (so good), ready to hike it up. Well, we arrived there and…had NOT made a reservation (which apparently we needed). So, we were told to leave the park IMMEDIATELY (a little dramatic, if you ask me…) and go online to make a reservation. We were able to make a reservation to enter the park at 2 pm, and it was about 11:45 am. We decided to check out Fredericksburg, a small German town outside of Austin that wasn’t too far from Enchanted Rock. It was on my list of places to visit, so we were sort-of killing two birds with one stone. LESSON: plan ahead and check to see if a reservation is needed.

Fredericksburg was a neat little town - cute shops, restaurants, and bustling with energy. We were also able to get a wine cocktail to-go and drink it as we walked around - always a plus. We didn’t stop to eat anywhere but just popped into shops as we wanted and took in the vibe. By the time we walked up and down the main drag, it was time to head back to the park.

We had a few challenges with dogs in the park, as they were only allowed on SOME trails. Without taking full advantage of rangers not around, we stretched that a little bit. The dogs came everywhere we went except for the very top of the rock. Amanda hung back with the dogs while I headed to the top of the rock (she had already hiked up to the top previously). I still don’t understand how the “mountain” is a “rock,” but it was cool nonetheless. I always have a sense of accomplishment climbing to the top of something, regardless of what it is!

That night, we headed back to Austin to join our friends, Everett and Tracy, for dinner at their house. I met Everett and Tracy through Amanda, in NYC, over ten years ago (whoa). We had all gathered in a bar for Amanda’s birthday, and I ended up speaking to Ev and Tracy all night - and the friendships just stuck! Anyway, we made homemade pizza, caught up, and they gave me some tips and recommendations on traveling through West Texas.

Amanda and I spent some time walking “Town Lake” in Austin with the dogs. Austin is such an active city and reminds me a lot of Denver - except no mountains. But Austin is in Texas “hill country,” and there are rolling hills in parts of the city - almost feels like LA in some places.

Sparing all the details, I ran into another “issue” with my Thule overhead cargo carrier on my car while in Austin. I could not get it closed again. I took it to Rack Outfitters (best place!) in Austin, and the guys there helped to show me how to have the magical touch to close the carrier completely. It worked. I sort-of felt like I should have been able to figure this out myself, but as I’ve mentioned, I’m learning as I go…

After staying with Amanda, I made my way to my friend Jordan’s to stay with him for a bit. Jordan is a.high school friend and we’ve remained close over the years…he and I traveled to Banff National Park in Canada together a few years ago. My friends are cool. I went from staying in one cool area of Austin to another. Jordan lives right downtown, so I was able to get some runs in on Town Lake and walk around the city.

Jordan had this idea a while ago: that we would get custom hats made at one of the most well-known (slash hidden gems) places for custom hats: Texas Hatters. Jordan knew it would be fun, and he also thoughtfully knew it would be the perfect souvenir for me to have of my trip and time in Texas. He was right!

We took a drive down to Lockhart, TX, about an hour south of Austin. Neither of us had any idea of what to expect. In hindsight, I think I walked into precisely what I expected - an original hat shoppe (I purposely spelled it that way) that has been around for generations. As we walked in, we saw walls of hats in different styles and shapes on shelves, countertops filled with hat molds, hat decor (there is probably a more appropriate word for that when it comes to hats, but I don’t know it), hat color swatches and ribbons. Photos, posters, signed letters, and other memorabilia from known actors and politicians adorned the walls in the back. Seemingly in disarray, I have a feeling everything was exactly where it was supposed to be. It all added to the charm.

As Jordan and I waited for the shop keeper, David, to finish up with another customer, we tried on hat shapes and colors to decide what type of looks we wanted. Once David was done with his previous customer, he started recommending colors and styles based on our skin tones and hair colors, and also our lifestyles. We let him make a lot of the decisions because he knew what he was doing - way more than we did! He explained the material options of the hats, how the hats are molded, how to clean them (or not to clean them), and we also learned about hat etiquette. We had a blast. After finalizing our selections, we learned that the hats would be ready in a few weeks, and Jordan would go back to pick them up and get sized to his likeness. I would have to trust David to shape and size mine right because I wouldn’t be in town to visit again. I’m sure it’ll be perfect.

Since Lockhart hosts some of the best BBQ in Texas, we had a late lunch at Smitty’s BBQ. Although I don’t eat meat, it was fun to “experience” Texas BBQ. This place was no-frills, and the smokehouse was right outside the dining area, which hosted long wooden picnic-type tables. The meat was served on kraft paper with bread and crackers if one so desired. I can say with confidence that the coleslaw, potato salad, and mac and cheese were delicious, and according to Jordan, the meat was tasty as well.

Jordan and I also visited San Antonio and the Alamo. We did a tour, which was helpful, and learned about the specific history of the structure and area. The Alamo has undergone a lot of transformation over the years. After visiting the Alamo, given the fantastic weather, we enjoyed a cocktail on the River Walk, which was a city experience like no other - probably because I somehow ordered a Big Red Bomb Margarita and I have no idea how. I went with it, as you will see below.

My last full day in Austin was spent tooling around in Jordan’s ‘83 CJ7 Jeep with Amanda. The three of us (and the pooches) got brunch and cocktails on Rainey Street and spent the afternoon finding Austin mural art to take photographs. The sun was shining, I was with my two friends and the dogs and all was great. We headed back to Jordan’s to catch the Super Bowl - what a great day…and week in Austin!

#8: Giving Thanks

Even though Thanksgiving has come and gone, I’m going to stretch out the sentiment. This year’s Thanksgiving was especially meaningful. I’ve felt especially grateful and perhaps “deeper” gratitude this year. I also have a few new things for which I’m thankful. May this post serve as a reminder to us all to be thankful way more often than just around this time of year.

Here are some things I’m most thankful for this year, given this recent adventure:

Old Friends (and Chosen Family)

I spent Thanksgiving with my life long friend Amanda, her sister Morganne (and her husband, Matt), and their parents, “Aunt” Debbie and “Uncle” Joe. Amanda and I were born one month apart (I’m older…which she never lets me forget!) and in houses about 100 yards away from one another in Connecticut. We grew up side by side…literally. As a child, if I needed help with my chores, she led the charge so we could get them done faster. When I ran my first marathon, she was on the sidelines cheering me on. When my mom suddenly passed, she made sure to come see me. When I didn’t think I could make the Kilimanjaro climb, she was there by my side, telling me I could do it.

Of all Thanksgivings, I was so grateful to spend THIS one with her and her family. I think the universe did me a favor. It really meant a lot to me.

(AND I ate some incredible vegetarian meals, drank some lovely wines AND did loads of laundry.)

Chosen Family (and Old Friends)

My 20-year high school reunion took place over the Thanksgiving weekend. Given my new lifestyle, I didn’t even consider going up to Connecticut for it…until about two weeks prior to the date. Something hit me and I knew that I would regret not going. I loved high school and have a lot of close friends from that time of my life. I had a bizillion Delta miles (well, not that many), the logistics of it weren’t that difficult to figure out and…YOLO. My time in CT (including travel time to/from SC) was a total of 36 hours. But I was so, so, so happy that I went.

My friends (many from high school and many from other chapters of my life) are my chosen family. They are not people I am forced to love through blood or through marriages…they are people I have chosen to keep by my side. They add value, positive energy and support to my life that I can only hope I provide to them in return.

Taking this journey has only magnified these relationships for me. These people are so supportive and every day they keep me going. They know me, stick by me and help me become a better person. Hopefully they are supporting me by reading this…if not, I may need to reevaluate some of them (just kidding…sort-of…hehe).

Seriously, though…the calls, the texts, the emails, the surprises in the mail…I feel like I can conquer the world with the support that I have. I am so thankful!

Showers

For better or for worse (no pun intended), when I see this word, I first think of wedding showers or baby showers. This is NOT what I mean when I say this. Although I do appreciate the celebration of weddings and babies, I’m not referring to those things now.

What I mean is actual SHOWERS. Like, taking a shower. With hot water. And water pressure. In the comfort of a clean bathroom in a home. Showers are taken for granted and after one month of living on the road, I vow to myself that I will never take another shower for granted again.

My Dad

This guy. He is incredible.

I mean it when I say this…I couldn’t have taken this leap without his support - emotionally, mentally and logistically.

Like a fine wine, our relationship has developed and improved over time. We never used to “get” each other - in fact, we couldn’t have been further opposites regarding how we looked at things and what we expected from each other. But over time, we grew. We each grew in different ways, but the important part is that through our own growth, we grew closer to each other…as if we both leaned in towards each other and met in that space neither one of us was willing or able to go before.

When I told him I had the idea to travel for a year and live on the road, he was hesitant. However, since I’m so charming and such a skilled marketer (ahem), he slowly got on board. Once I knew I had his attention, I made the definitive decision to do it. And once I made the decision (which I wouldn’t have done unless I knew he would support me on), he made it his mission to set me up for success.

Just like me, my dad knew nothing about RV’ing (although he knows pretty much everything else and can fix or make anything). We tackled all the prep work together - hour by hour, user manual by user manual, mishap by mishap - and we figured things out. He was able to send me off on this journey feeling confident that he did everything he could to set me up for a safe, fun and memorable year on the road.

Side note: He had phone calls from me literally 24 hours after departing his house…when it was 20 degrees, the Airstream batteries were dying and my car 7-prong was busted. I bet he smiled when he picked up my calls. :)

National and State Parks

This is a new one for me. Over the past month, I have spent a lot of time in National and State parks. I rely on these parks…to explore, to learn from, to SLEEP in.

In a world full of controversy, technology, and constant development, I find such humility in the simplicity of nature. Standing in a forest, on a beach or in a cave that looks nearly identical to how it did centuries ago is remarkable. And more importantly, it’s a privilege.

I am so grateful for these parks. For the individuals who founded them and run them, for the movements and organizations that keep them going and for the people out there who visit, cherish and support them. We share this planet with so many other species and it’s our responsibility to preserve and protect it for future generations.

I know I sound like a speech or a mission statement (or something), but my appreciation for this is real and I feel #blessed to have the opportunity to take advantage of what these parks have to offer. What they offer really is beyond my words.